Arrangement for connecting two electric leads and applications of the connection obtained



Nov. 16, 1965 MOUTTET 3,218,600

ARRANGEMENT FOR CONNECTING TWO ELECTRIC LEADS AND APPLICATIONS OF THE CONNECTION OBTAINED Filed March 18, 1963 Unitd States Patent Ofiice 3,218,600 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 3,218,600 ARRANGEMENT FOR CONNECTING TWO ELEC- TREC LEADS AND APPLICATIONS OF THE CON- NECTION OBTAINED Leon Mouttet, 4 Rue du College, Morges (V and), Switzerland Filed Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,908 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Mar. 30, 1962, 3,861/ 62 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-91) My invention has for its object an arrangement for connecting two electric leads, including, on the one hand, two sockets of which one is secured to the end of the first lead and the other to the end of the second lead and, on the other hand, a member for mechanically and electrically connecting the sockets. The novelty of the arrangement consists in that the connecting member is constituted by two parallel jacks which are interconnected by an intermediate part and are provided each with a safety catch adapted to enter a housing of a suitable shape formed in the corresponding socket. One of the elements, the catch and the housing, is adapted to bend elastically in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the jack, while an insulating casing is provided and designed so as to enclose at least the intermediate part and to allow a relative shifting, between two predetermined limit positions, along a direction parallel to the axes of the jacks, of the intermediate part with reference to the insulating casing. Two sleeves rigid with the casing surround each one of the jacks in a manner such that, for one of the limit positions, the catch on each jack may engage the corresponding socket, whereas it disengages it for the other position as a consequence of the bending of the elastic element. Removable means are provided and adapted to prevent the relative movement and to hold in their coupled position the sockets and the jacks through the agency of the safety catches.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, in cross-sectional view, a preferred embodiment of my invention as intended for use with switchboards such as those provided for telephone exchanges, for electronic calculating machines, for electronic control or measuring circuits required for atomic plants and rockets. As a matter of fact and as will clearly appear hereinafter, the arrangement illustrated is of particular interest for application to any plant, the electric circuits of which are subjected to frequent vibrations of a comparatively high intensity.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a partly sectional, partly elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

As illustrated, my improved arrangement includes, on the one hand, two sockets 1 and 2 adapted to be secured to the ends of the corresponding cables and on the other hand, a connecting member 3 for interconnecting the sockets and locking them in their relative position when required.

The connecting member includes two jacks 4 of which only one is illustrated in the drawing. The lower ends of the jack-s are encased in an intermediate part 5 constituted by a hollow dished transverse section 6 over which is fitted a central socket 7 extending in a direction opposed to that of the jacks. The intermediate part and also the lower ends of the jacks 4 are arranged inside an insulating box constituted by a hollow casing 8 and by a cover 9 secured over the casing, for instance by means of screws which are not illustrated. The chamber defined by the casing and the cover has a size such that it does not allow more than a slight shifting of the jacks 4 and of the intermediate part in a direction parallel with the axes of the jacks. The shifting is limited by the small clearance 10 separating the upper surface of the edge of the dished section of the intermediate part 5 from the lower edge of the cover 9.

Each of the jacks 4 is longitudinally slotted so as to form a rectangular elastic blade 11 rigid with the remainder of the jack and having at its free end a projection 12 of a trapezium shape forming a safety catch. The jacks are each enclosed inside a sleeve 13 extending through openings 9a in the cover 9 and the lower collar of which is clamped between the casing 8 and its cover 9 so as to rigidly secure the sleeve to the casing. Each sleeve is provided in registry with the safety catch of the corresponding jack with an opening 14 adapted to be engaged by the catch when the intermediate part occupies, with the two jacks and their catches, the position illustrated in the drawing inside the outer casing.

The thickness of each sleeve is such that at least a section of the catch projects through and beyond the outer sleeve surface. Each of the sockets 1 and 2 is provided with an annular groove 15 engaged by the safety catch 12 on the corresponding jack 3 whenever said socket is fitted over the sleeve 13 in the manner illustrated in the drawing.

The electric connection between the two cables thus mechanically interconnected is obtained through a 'U- shaped male connection 16 adapted to be fitted at the end of each arm inside a female connection 17 of a corresponding shape carried by one of the sockets 1 and 2.

The connections 16 and 17 which are both of a comparatively reduced thickness may be consequently readily folded and are covered each by at protecting member. Thus, each arm of the connection 16 is protected in its medial section by an insulating socket 18 including a bottom which has a thickness corresponding substantially to one half of its height and inside which the connection 16 is guided while the upper section of the socket 18 is recessed so as to form an annular housing surrounding the upper end of each arm of the connection 16. The connection 17 cooperating with each socket 1 and 2 is enclosed in an insulating sleeve 19 the size of which matches that of the housing formed inside the socket 18, whereby each sleeve 19 is guided in the corresponding housing each time one of the sockets 1 and 2 is fitted over the corresponding sleeve 13 of the connecting member.

The central socket 7 of the intermediate part 5, is provided inwardly with an annular groove 20 adapted to engage a catch 21 provided on an elastic tongue 22 cut out of a sleeve 23 fitted inside said socket 7. The sleeve 23 which is threaded at is provided furthermore on its outer surface, with a collar 24 in contacting relationship with the edge of the section of the casing 8 surrounding the socket 7 on the intermediate part.

The catch 21 is rounded so as to be readily removed out of the groove 20, for instance through a mere tractional stress exerted on the collar 24.

Inside the sleeve 23 is housed a cap 26 the end of which is threaded for cooperation with the thread 25 in the sleeve23. The length of the cap is such that when it has entirely receded inside the sleeve, its upper edge acts directly on the catch 21 and holds it inside the groove 20 so that it is impossible to shift, in a direction corresponding to a vertical line of the drawing, the intermediate part 5 and the jacks 4 with reference to the outer casing of the connecting member. The jacks and part may be readily shifted when the cap has not fully engaged the corresponding sleeve and consequently the catch 21 may be readily disengaged with reference to the groove 20, as described hereinabove.

The sockets 1 and ,2 can be released from the connecting member for disconnecting the corresponding cables only in this latter case by exerting on the connecting member a tractional stress in a direction extending towards the bottom of the drawing in the example illustrated. At the beginning of the downward movement of the connecting member, the jacks 4 and the intermediate part 5 which are secured to the sockets 1 and 2 through the agency of the corresponding safety catches, remain stationary, whereas the connecting memher and the sleeve 13 rigid with the latter move in the direction of the stress exerted on the connecting member. The shifting of the sleeve 13 with reference to the corresponding jacks 4, makes the catches 12 collapse gradually through a bending of the corresponding blades 11 as provided by the engagement of the upper edge of the opening 14 in each sleeve 13 with the sloping surface, of the corresponding catch. When the sleeves 13 have slid over the jacks by an amount corresponding to the clearance 10 between the cover 9 of the outer casing and the intermediate part 5, the catches 12 no longer project beyond the outer surfaces of the sleeves 13 and are no longer engaged by the grooves 15 in the corresponding sockets 1 and 2, so that the sockets are free and may be disengaged with reference to the connecting member.

Of course, it is also possible to execute this operation by exerting a tractional stress on the sockets while the connecting member is held fast. In this case, the jacks and the intermediate part 5 move with reference to theouter casing 8 and to the sleeves 13, but the procedure for the release of the catches 12 remains the same as that described.

It is possible, with the connecting member described to provide between the interconnected cables, a supplementary connection, say a measuring connection by introducing inside the socket 7 of the intermediate part 5, a safety jack provided with a catch which is not illustrated, for instance a jack of the type forming the object of the Registered Trademark Lemo and described in the Swiss Patent 340,537. To this end, inside the connecting member, a connection 27 engages the medial part of the U-shaped connection member 16, while its lower end is identical with the catch 12 on the jack 1 or 2. The connection 27 is also enclosed inside an insulating sleeve 28 which. ensures a mechanical protection for it, which is similar to that provided by the above-described socket 18 and sleeve 19.

Obviously, the jacks to be introduced inside the socket 7, should be provided with corresponding parts adapted to establish an electric connection between the conductive section of the connecting member 3 and the measuring connection to be transiently secured to the latter.

What I claim is:

1. A connector for connecting two electric conductors and for selectively connecting the two conductors in parallel with a third conductor comprising, means defining two sockets, two jacks each inserted in a respective socket, means on each of said two sockets for releasably connecting a respective one of said two sockets to a respective jack, means on each of said jacks for cooperating with the last-mentioned means for releasably connecting a respective one of said two sockets to a respective jack, means electrically connecting said jacks, means defining a third socket connected to said jacks, a third jack connection in said socket for electrically connecting a third conductor to said two conductors with said two conductors in parallel therewith, said third socket having an internal groove, an open end sleeve removably mountable axially in said socket, lock means on said sleeve for engaging said groove for releasably, locking said sleeve axially in position in said third socket, a cap removably mountable in said sleeve closing an open end of said sleeve facing outwardly of said socket, said cap comprising means cooperative with said lock means for rendering said lock means ineffective to release the sleeve from said third socket, means defining a housing confining the two jacks and said third socket, said sleeve engaging said housing to close said third socket when said sleeve is locked by said cap, whereby when said cap is in said sleeve said third socket is closed to the atmosphere and said socket is usable for connecting said two conductors and when said cap is removed from said sleeve said sleeve is removable axially from said third socket for insertion of a sleeve connection on said third conductor comprising releasable lock means comparable to the lock means on said sleeve.

2. A connector for connecting two electric conductors and for selectively connecting the two conductors in parallel with a third conductor comprising means defining two sockets, two jacks each inserted in a respective socket, means on each of said two sockets for releasably connecting a respective one of said two sockets to a respective jack, means on each of said jacks for cooperating with the last-mentioned means for releasably connecting a respective one of said two sockets to a respective jack, means electrically connecting said jacks, means defining a third socket connected to said jacks, a third jack connection in said third socket for electrically connecting a third conductor to said two conductors with said two conductors in parallel therewith, said third socket having an internal annular groove, an open end sleeve removably mountable axially in said socket, lock means on said sleeve for engaging said groove for releasably, locking said sleeve axially in position in said third socket, a threaded cap removably mountable in said sleeve closing an open end of said sleeve facing outwardly of said socket, said cap comprising means cooperative with said lock means for rendering said lock means ineffective to release the sleeve from said third socket, whereby when said cap is in said sleeve said third socket is closed to the atmosphere and said socket is usable for connecting said two conductors and when said cap is removed from said sleeve said sleeve is removable axially from said third socket for insertion of a sleeve connection on said third conductor comprising releasable lock means comparable to the lock means on said sleeve.

3. A connector for connecting two electric conductors and for selectively connecting the two conductors in parallel with a third conductor comprising, means defining two sockets, two jacks each inserted in a respective socket, means on each of said two sockets for connecting a respective one of said two sockets to a respective jack,

means on each of said jacks for cooperating with the in said third socket for electrically connecting a third conductor to said two conductors with said two conductors in parallel therewith, said third socket having an internal annular groove, an open end sleeve removably mountableaxially in said socket, lock means on said sleeve for engaging said groove for releasably, locking said sleeve axially in position in said third socket, a threaded cap removably mountable in said sleeve closing an open end of said sleeve facing outwardly of said socket, said cap comprising means cooperative with said lock means for rendering said lock means ineffective to release the sleeve from said third socket, means defining a housing confining the two jacks and said third socket,

said sleeve engaging said housing to close said third socket when said sleeve is locked by said cap, whereby when said cap is in said sleeve said third socket is closed to the atmosphere and said socket is usable for connecting said two conductors and when said cap is removed from said sleeve said sleeve is removable axially from said third socket for insertion of a sleeve connection on said third conductor comprising releasable lock means comparable to the lock means on said sleeve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,508,767 5/1950 Modrey 339-45 5 3,082,396 3/1963 Bernhard 339 4s X FOREIGN PATENTS 845,697 8/1960 Great Britain.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING TWO ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS AND FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING THE TWO CONDUCTORS IN PARALLEL WITH A THIRD CONDUCTOR COMPRISING, MEANS DEFINING TWO SOCKETS, TWO JACKS EACH INSERTED IN A RESPECTIVE SOCKET, MEANS ON EACH OF SAID TWO SOCKETS FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID TWO SOCKETS TO A RESPECTIVE JACK, MEANS ON EACH OF SAID JACKS FOR COOPERATING WITH THE LAST-MENTIONED MEANS FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID TWO SOCKETS TO A RESPECTIVE JACK, MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING SAID JACKS, MEANS DEFINING A THIRD SOCKET CONNECTED TO SAID JACKS, A THIRD JACK CONNECTION IN SAID SOCKET FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING A THIRD CONDUCTOR TO SAID TWO CONDUCTORS WITH SAID TWO CONDUCTORS IN PARALLEL THEREWITH, SAID THIRD SOCKET HAVING AN INTERNAL GROOVE, AN OPEN END SLEEVE REMOVABLY MOUNTABLE AXIALLY IN SAID SOCKET, LOCK MEANS ON SAID SLEEVE FOR ENGAGING SAID GROOVE FOR RELEASABLY, LOCKING SAID SLEEVE AXIALLY IN POSITION IN SAID THIRD SOCKET, A CAP REMOVABLY MOUNTABLE IN SAID SLEEVE CLOSING AN OPEN END OF SAID SLEEVE FACING OUTWARDLY OF SAID SOCKET, SAID CAP COMPRISING MEANS COOPERATIVE WITH SAID LOCK MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID LOCK MEANS INEFFECTIVE TO RELEASE THE SLEEVE FROM SAID THIRD SOCKET, MEANS DEFINING A HOUSING CON- 